Shabby Chic Wooden Filing Cabinet

I found this beauty at a local Op Shop a couple of weeks back, and knew it would look fantastic keeping it simple and fresh with an Antique White shabby finish.

Unfortunately the keys are long gone but it is still a very functional and solid piece of furniture.

This is what it looks like inside - each drawer has a piece of timber attached to a thick wire at the base of the drawer, which it slides on, so no matter how few or many files in there, and they will remain standing.

I got to work removing the hardware...

A few years of grime under there!

I just used a fine knife to carefully prise the key plate and label holder up, so as not the damage the timber.

A light sand followed by a wash, and they were all good to prime and paint.

Here are the pieces I was working on last Friday, out on my driveway drying.  It often looks like this, and we currently live on quite a busy street.  The people driving past must wonder what on earth I am up to!

The black paint on the handles was quite sticky and shabby in not a good way so I opted to strip the paint off.

Probably a no-brainer but I always but the screws etc in a bag so I don't lose them or get them mixed up.  Sometimes I will label them, too, but this one was easy to work out which piece it belonged to because of the nameplates :)

Here it is all done and ready for sale in Piper & Rush.

I love those label holders!

Obviously it would be useful in a home office as a stylish alternative to a new filing cabinet, if you weren't worried about locking it.  I think it would also make a great side table or bedside cabinet...heaps of storage space in those big drawers!

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